Rotator cuff implants, systems and methods of using the same

Abstract

An implant, system, and method used for inserting a tendon repair implant system into a patient's humerus. The implant system includes an implant and at least one staple. The implant includes a body, a first arm extending away from the body on a first end of the implant, and a second arm extending away from the body between the first end and a second end of the implant. The implant may also include a hydrogel coating with a gradient of human growth factors positioned on at least the bone contacting surfaces. The implant is positioned on the proximal humerus and greater tuberosity with the two arms of the implant spaced apart forming a passageway for receiving the rotator cuff tendon.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments, the invention is now claimed to be: 
     
         1 . An implant, comprising:
 a body;   a first arm extending away from the body on a first end of the implant; and   a second arm extending away from the body between the first end and a second end of the implant.   
     
     
         2 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the first arm is spaced apart from the second arm forming a passageway extending into the implant from a medial end of the implant towards a lateral end. 
     
     
         3 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises:
 a pair of openings extending through the body from a medial side to a lateral side, wherein the pair of openings are positioned near a second end of the implant.   
     
     
         4 . The implant of  claim 3 , wherein the body further comprises:
 a window extending through the body from a medial side to a lateral side, wherein the window is positioned near a first end of the implant.   
     
     
         5 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the first arm is positioned parallel to the second arm, and wherein the body extends away from a second end of each of the first arm and the second arm at an angle. 
     
     
         6 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the first arm comprises:
 at least one pair of openings extending through the first arm from a superior end to an inferior end.   
     
     
         7 . The implant of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one pair of openings comprises:
 a first pair of openings positioned near a medial side of the first arm; and   a second pair of openings positioned near a lateral side of the first arm.   
     
     
         8 . The implant of  claim 7 , wherein the openings of the first pair of openings and the second pair of openings are positioned in a grid pattern. 
     
     
         9 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the second arm comprises:
 a through hole extending through the second arm from a superior end to an inferior end.   
     
     
         10 . The implant of  claim 1 , further comprises:
 a hydrogel coating covering at least bone contacting surfaces of the implant, wherein the hydrogel coating comprises:
 a first layer coupled to the implant; 
 a second layer; and 
 a third layer, wherein the second layer is positioned between the first layer and the third layer. 
   
     
     
         11 . A tendon repair implant system, comprising:
 an implant; and   at least one staple for engaging at least a portion of the implant.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the implant comprises:
 a body;   a first arm extending away from the body on a first end of the implant; an   a second arm extending away from the body between the first end and a second end of the implant.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the body comprises:
 a pair of openings extending through the body from a medial side to a lateral side, wherein the pair of openings are positioned near a second end of the implant, wherein a first staple of the at least one staple is inserted through the pair of openings.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first arm comprises:
 a first pair of openings positioned near a medial side of the first arm; and   a second pair of openings positioned near a lateral side of the first arm;   wherein a second staple of the at least one staple is inserted through at least one of the first pair of openings and the second pair of openings.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprises:
 at least one suture extending through a window of the body of the implant.   
     
     
         16 . A method for inserting a tendon repair implant system, comprising:
 obtaining the tendon repair implant system;   preparing a proximal humerus and greater tuberosity for receiving the tendon repair implant system;   inserting an implant of the tendon repair implant system onto the proximal humerus and the greater tuberosity; and   inserting at least one staple of the tendon repair implant system through the implant.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein inserting at least one staple of the tendon repair implant system through the implant comprises:
 inserting a first staple of the at least one staple into a lateral side of the proximal humerus; and   inserting a second staple of the at least one staple into a superior side of the proximal humerus.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 inserting at least one suture through a torn rotator cuff tendon before inserting the implant.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 inserting at least one second implant posterior to the inserted implant.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the implant includes a coating on at least bone contacting surfaces.